Wind-shield-treating device.



C. WHITE.

WIND SHIELD TREATING DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 17. ms.

Patented July 23, 1918.

fliaanlea W72 i Inventor:

CHARLES WHITE, OF BALTIMORE, MARYLAND.

' WIND-SHIELD-TREATING DEVICE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed January 17, 1918. Serial No. 212,307.

To all whom it may concern;

Be it known that I, CHARLES WHITE, a citizen of the United States, and resident of Baltimore, Maryland, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Windshield-Treating Devices, of which the following is a specification.

Automobile drivers and motormen ex perience difficulty in rainy weather, in not having a clear view of the roadway ahead of them, due to the collection of the Water in theform of drops on the wind-shield, resulting in the refraction of the light rays. It is the object of my invention to provide a device whereby the driver may prevent the objectionable accumulation of the water on the glass in the form of drops, but instead by its simple application to or rubbing over of the glass surface will cause the rain drops, as they strike thereon, to be charged with a certain degree of the chemical thuscausing the water to be dissipated and spread so that the passage of the light rays will take place without deflection and therefore vision will not be interfered with.

In carrying out my invention I aim to provide a device which is always ready for immediate application to the glass without preliminary preparation on the part of the user, requiring no immersion in water, or other liquid, but utilizing only the moisture or rain drops which have collected on the windshield prior to the application of the device (tihereto, the device, when not in use, being Further I aim to provide a device of such structure and characteristics as will respond instantly, with the desired eflect, upon being applied or rubbed once or twice over the surface to be rendered clear to the vision, this being desirable to enable the-motorman or driver to use the device at any opportune moment at which his attention may be free, and without stopping the car.

Again it is my object to provide a device which may be used repeatedly for a long period without being renewed in any way.

The invention is shown in the accompanying drawings in which,

Figure 1 is a side elevation of the device, and, 4

Fig. 2 is a face view of its under side.

The device consists of a body 1 of wood or other material, having a thin strip 2 of material, as felt or other fabric, having interstices, pores or the like, which will absorb and carry material, such as alum. This strip or facing wick is held to the wooden block or body, as shown at 3, by having its edges folded and inserted in the grooves 4 at the ends of the block. The fabric is simply doubled upon itself at the ends and with a suitable blade'or instrument bearing against the material within the fold sufficient pressure may be exerted to thrust the folded edge to its seat, the proportions of the block and strip and the location of the grooves being such that in the act of forcing Patented July 23, 1918.

the folded edge to its seat the strip of fabric is drawn taut around the edge at 5, and over the bottom face of the block, so that the block provides backing for the thin strips.

0 means are provided for holding the folded edge in place, frictional contact alone being relied on.

' The strip of fabric acts, as stated above, as a carrier for the substance used to treat the wet wind shield. This material before application to the wet surface isdry and depends for its effect on the glass only upon the limited amount of water or rain drops which have collected thereon from the storm or shower.

In preparing the strip it is simply immersed in a saturated solution of alum which it absorbs so as to become thoroughly impregnated therewithv throughout its thickness. This thorough impregnation of the felt or fabric provides not only a reserve supply of the alum for repeated use, but it exposes the alum directly at the Working face of the felt, so that instantly upon the application of the device to the wet surface, or immediately upon its being rubbed over the said surface the alum becomes effective, being taken up by the water and causing the resulting fluid to spread over the surface and be evenly distributed. The thin felt covering may be entirely dry before the device is applied to the wet surface, but the alum material being present at the surface becomes effective at once from the water andthe glass and it is not necessary to continue rubbing or to prolong the contact of the felt with the Wet surface for any appreciable length of time, it being unnecessary to cause the felt to become saturated with the water and to become Wet clear through before the action begins. Thus the device can be used by the motorman or car driver While the car is running, it requiring but a moments application and therefore the attention of the driver is not diverted from his regular duty for a dangerous length of time.

a I do not limitmyself to the partlcular ma: i terial with which the strip is impregnated.

When the wind shield is covered with brain-drops it is only necessary to apply the 10 glass clear as long as the rain falls upon it.

What I claim isz A device for treating wind-shields com prising a portable body adapted to be car-' ried in the hand and having on one face a thin strip of fibrous material with dry'alum powder incorporated in the interstices thereof, and exposed on its surface, substantially as described. v

In testimony whereof, I afiix my signature.

CHARLES WHITE. 

